Wednesday, May 15th is National Employee Health & Fitness Day and it’s a great opportunity to remind your employees about the importance and benefits of regular exercise!
Exercise has been linked to numerous benefits, such as reducing your risk for chronic health issues like heart disease, diabetes, depression and several types of cancer.
And yet millions of Americans fall short of meeting their daily recommended guidelines; despite the fact that it can be a significant factor with impacting medical expenses. In fact, a 2016 study published by “The Lancet” determined that individuals who participated in a 30-minute walk at least 5 days a week on average spent $2,500 less in annual medical-related expenses than those who didn’t.
So, what can be done? Use this opportunity to kick-start some new wellness initiatives. Start by expressing that this is being implemented because you care about your employees and make it an opportunity to celebrate good health. Instead of providing a pizza party, maybe mix it up with food from a place that offers sandwiches on whole wheat bread or wraps with lean protein options (such as chicken, turkey or even vegetarian options), salads and even fruit in place of cookies. Or you could organize a company-wide walk. As we mentioned before, a 30-minute walk can go a long way and by making time for it, you’re showing employees that it is a priority. Even starting small, with leading a 2-minute midday stretching break can be a small change that eventually leads to a big impact.
The bottom line? Consistent exercise and other healthy habits can save companies millions of dollars in healthcare expenditures. Yet it seems to be one of the hardest habits to make. And since people often spend 40+ hours of their week at work, it’s a great place to also encourage more regular participation. In can be a win-win benefit for both the individual and the company.
Share your plans to celebrate! Send Corporate Fitness & Health your National Employee Health & Fitness Day plans and they will send you a shout out on their social media pages! Email your stories and pictures to kcalverase@cfandh.com.
The Diversified Group family of companies includes Corporate Fitness & Health. If you’re looking for a workplace wellness program that you’ll be excited to invest in, one that can help you reduce healthcare costs and help employees avoid elevated health risks, then it’s time you learned about CF&H. With over 30 years of experience, CF&H can help your organization implement a wellness program that will keep your employees happy, healthy and engaged.
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